By Ron Maxwell - CEO
Over thirty-five years ago, VERTO was born right here in Central West NSW. Today, we are an organisation with a national footprint and sites across NSW, ACT and VIC, however, we remain committed to the Central West community which has given us so much.
Our core mission is to positively transform the lives of individuals, families and communities and it’s a mission we take very seriously. So today, I’d like to talk about how and why VERTO supports our local community and encourage those who can, to consider doing the same.
Investing in the local community
In such uncertain times, our communities need stability and a sense of continuity. Recently, VERTO purchased a second commercial property, located next to our existing site in Howick Street, Bathurst. As well as deepening our financial investment in the community, we did this to show our continued commitment to our Central West heartland.
Alongside this, we are also investing in communities across our footprint, and we recently purchased a commercial property at Broadmeadow in the Hunter Region of NSW. Our workforce in this region is growing in line with demand for our services, and this property will house our expanding team, providing a hub for the community’s growing employment, training and apprenticeship needs.
Our message to these communities is clear: We are here to stay. We will continue to employ local people, provide access to employment and training services, and support the jobseekers, apprentices and employers who rely on us.
Building connected communities
Something we are really passionate about at VERTO is helping the local community to connect with each other. One of the ways we do this is by running our own free events, such as the VERTO Inspire Series and playing a part at other community events such as the Bathurst After 5 business events.
We also sponsor a range of community activities, from local training awards and the VERITAS Winter Wonderland Ball to the 2021 Dubbo Community NAIDOC Ball , a fantastic event which we are really proud to be part of. These events are a great opportunity for people to come together, celebrate and build community spirit.
Another way we connect people is by supporting local sporting teams. Community sports unite local players, families and spectators, giving them a shared goal and creating experiences in which everyone can play a part.
I believe that by providing financial support, we are playing our role in the future of these clubs and the community. In 2021, VERTO is proud to sponsor C3 Cyclists, Bathurst Bulldogs Old Boys Rugby Team and Panorama Platypi Women’s Rugby League Club, here in the Central West, and the Broken Hill Football Club in the Far West, to name a few.
Supporting those who need us the most
I believe local organisations and businesses have a role to play in supporting those who need it the most. Sadly, during the pandemic, the most vulnerable in our community were often the most heavily impacted. At the same time, many of our vital charities are struggling to survive as donations decrease during the pandemic.
That’s why it was important to me and the VERTO team that we continued to give throughout this tough time.
In 2020, I’m proud to say that VERTO donated almost $130,000 to local charities. For me, this isn’t just about donating to important causes, it’s also about showing our staff that we care, because they are members of the community too.
Many of our team members have been personally affected by the impacts of COVID-19, droughts, bushfires, and floods in recent years, and we want to show them we care. We also encourage our staff to suggest charitable giving opportunities or put forward their favourite charities to be part of giving campaigns, such as our 12 Days of Giving, whereby we donate to 12 charities each Christmas.
Communities and businesses can grow and thrive together
It’s a two-way street – the future of our communities and that of local businesses really is intertwined. Investing in the community isn’t just about having a positive social impact, it makes business sense too.
While some of our regions may have seen a recent population boost due to the COVID-19 driven exodus of city workers, the reality is that many others remain in population decline. For businesses to thrive, we need growing, vibrant communities that attract new residents and keep young people in the local community.
VERTO will continue to play a role in building that community here our Central West heartland and in all the communities in which we operate. We believe that together, local businesses and communities can grow and thrive into the future.
